Saxophone



Jan. 12, 1932;

L; LEBLANC SAXOPHONE 2 sheets-shut 2 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 LEON LEBLANC, OF LA COUTURE BOUSSEY, FRANCE SAXOPHONE Application filed October'4, 1926, Serial No. 139,498, and in France May 2a, 1926.

instruments for properly opening and closing the said holes. r

The primary object of the invention is to provide a saxophone wherein, given its highest fundamental or normally emitted sound, the holes corresponding to all the fundamental sounds that it can emit will remain open and wherein moreover the number'of open holes will beequal to the numberof fundamental halftones that said saxophone will possibly emit. I g a j A further object of'the invention is to provide a saxophone embodying suitable mechanisms whereby the player willbe at liberty to produce a sequence oftones by opening a single hole for every new tone so as to secure a sequence of tones and by each time lifting only one finger but a different-one. v A still further object of the inventionis to provide a saxophone embodying suitable mechanisms for performing the automatic actuation of the octave keys by means of one fin er only to wit :the left ring finger.- i

uch being the principal objects of the invention-other objects will incidentally appear in the following desoriptionit comprises the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts that will now be exemplified in the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein i I f Figure 1 is a diagrammatic developed view of the mechanism for producing-the lowest Figure 2 is asimilar view of the mechanism applicable to the normally open hole' corresponding to the soundEb.

' a t Figure?) is a similar View of the mechanism for producing by means of sucha' saxophone provided with an open Git thejsequence of whole tones: Ft, Git, Ali, G by lifting; one finger only for producing each tone, also of the additional mechanisms increasing the having -barrels sequentially acoustic range of the saxophone for producing a top Fit and top G. V

Figure 4 is a similar view of the mechanism performing the automatic actuation of the s octaves by means of one finger pieceonly cor- 55 responding to the thumb.

an arcuate arm 5 extending in the direction opposite to that of the link 3. A

, strong nee-' dle spring 2 located underneath the rock shaft 2raises the plate 1 and lowers the arm .7

5 whichthus presses upon the arm'18. 70 The cover 4 adapted to be depressed by the left little finger by means of an ordinary key not shown), has welded thereto an arm 6 the enlarged end of which contracts with the plate 1 and actuates it when required. To

the two ordinary finger pieces 7 and 8 con troll ng the sounds El; and C respectively there is added, according to the invention, a third finger piece 9 controlling the sound bottom Cit bymeans of which the D hole bearing the reference B on the drawings may be closed. I 7 Intermediate bearing studs 2* are pivotally arranged rock shafts 12 and 13 to which are welded the finger pieces 8 and 9. On the '85 rock shaft 13 are secured the finger piece 9" and the pointed link15 the end of which is fitted with the cover 10 by means of which may be closed or open the hole D through i which is emitted the soundD; a needlespring (J0 I 13 located underneath the rock shaft 13 raises the cover 10. On the finger piece 9 is secured a driving'lu 14'having an extension underneaththe finger piece 8'.

The rock shaft 12 carries the finger piece 8 and a stoplug 11; on said lug is attached,

.a needle spring 12' which. lowers the fingerpieces Sand 9 as well as the cover 10 by overcoming the antagonism of its own spring 13.

The effect of the spring 12 is overcome by'th spring 2 which lowers the arm 5 whereby the linger pieces 8 and 9 and the cover 16 are lifted. Such an action is performed through the medium of the levers 16 and 18 secured to the rock shaft 17 which is pivotally mounted between the studs 17. The end of the arm 16 engages the underside of the finger piece 8 and, as the lever 18 located under neath the arm 5, the depression of the cover 1 lowers the finger pieces 8 and 9 and the cover 10. Similarly the depression of the finger piece 8 lower-s the finger piece 9 and the covers 10 and 1.

As illustrated in Figure 2 which represents the mechanism used in connection with the open hole IE}; (not shown) through which the sound Eb is emitted, the rock shaft of this mechanism is arranged in alignment with the main axis of the covers and finger piece-s actuated by the right hand. Intermediate the studs 25 and 26 is pivotally arranged the said rock shaft 27 which has welded thereto the stem of the cover 28 and the curved rod 29 whilst the other end of the rod 29 is welded to the rock shaft 21 and carries an arm which is thus indirectly connected with the rock shaft 27 and with the cover 28. The arm 22 is terminated by a small plate 23 adapted to receive the right middle fin ger.

The plate is disposed above the cover 24 upon which it presses; a needle spring 2' located underneath the rock shaft 27 lifts the cover 28 and the said plate 23. When raising the middle finger of the right hand oil the finger piece 23, the latter is lifted by the spring 2' through the action of the rod 29, while the said spring acts at the same time on the cover 28 which produces the sound Eb.

The mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 mak-s it possible to produce the sequence of whole tones Git. Alt and C by lifting one finger only for each tone. Said mechanism comprises eleven rock shafts 55 to arranged between. the studs 50 to 54. The rock shaft 55 carries the arm 66 and the rod 67; the arm 66 passes under the lug 68 welded upon the cover 69 and is actuated by said cover. Through the arm 67 the rod 67 is connected to the rock shaft 57 so that the rock shafts and are connected with the cover 71 welded on the iiointed link secured to the rock shaft 57; the tail portion of said link 70 passes under an extension of the rod 72. Said rod is welded on one end to the rock shaft and on the other end to the rock shaft 61. Upon this rock shaft is also welded the pointed link 7 3 of the rock shaft 74; the part 7 2 of the rod 72 welded to the rock shaft 61 extends beyond said rock shaft so as to abut upon a stem 7 and also secured to the pointed link '76 of the enter 77 at right angles to said link. The stem passes under the pointed link 78 of the cover 90. Said pointed link 76 is welded to the rock shaft 6%.

Owing to this connection, by depressing the cover 69 the arm 66 is lowered and the rock shaft 55, the rod 67 and the rock shaft 57 are rocked whilst the cover 71 is depressed. The cover 69 is depressed by a rod acting on the cover to depress it, with such rod responding to the motion of an ordinary linger piece, such as indicated for example, at the extreme right hand end of Figure 3. The tail portion 70 of the cover 71 lifts the rod 72 thereby oscillating the rock shaft 61 which lowers the cover 74 and the stem 75 thus dcpressing the cover 77. Therefore by depressing the cover 69, the covers 71, 74 and 77 are caused to close their respective holes.

The rock shaft 56 is co-operatively connected to the rock shaft 59 by the rod 78 which passes thereover and abuts on the pointed link 70 of the cover 71. On the rock shaft 56 is welded the pointed link 80 of the cover 81 whereas on the rock shaft 59 is welded the crank arm 82 of the plate 83. The arm 82 passes under the pointed link 84 but does not contact with it when it is lowered. The rod 85 is welded on the one end to the rock shaft 59 and on the other end to the rock shaft 65 upon which are secured the arms 49 and 48.

Owing to this connection, by depressing the plate 83, the cover 81 and the cover 71. are also depressed. The rod 78 then presses upon the pointed link 70; its tail portion is lifted and lifts the rod 72 whilst lowering the covers 74 and 77. The rod 85 thus swingingly lifted by the depression of the plate 83 lifts the arms 49 and 48 which in turn raise the arms 47 and 46 of the mechanism as illustrated in Figure 4.

The plate 86 secured on the crank arm 87 is located above the plate 74 but it is independent of said plate. However when dcpressing the plate 86 the plate 7 4 is also depressed. As moreover the arm 87 as well as the pointed link 84 of the cover 88 are welded upon the rock shaft 60, it follows that by depressing the plate 86 the cover 88 and the plate 74 and consequently the pointed link 7 3, the rod 75 and the cover 77' are also depressed.

The pointed link 78 of the cover 90 and the arm 92 are welded on the rock shaft 63; the pointed link 78 abuts on the rod 75. Furthermore, on the rock shaft 63 is secured the arm 92 which abuts on the arm mounted on the rock shaft 91-93 oscillatingly carried between the bearing studs (Z. By depressing the cover 90, the cover 77 is also depressed whilst the arm 92 is raised.

Between the studs (l are arranged two rock shafts 91 and 93. The shaft 93 is provided with a pointed link secured on the C cover designated by the reference U whereas the shaft 91 is provided with the arm 95 and the pointed link 79 of the cover 96. A plate spring 1* located underneath the pointed link 79 depresses the cover 96 which closes the piece of the mouth-piece holder.

hole 13b through which the sound Bb is emitted. A stronger spring 8 lifts the cover 90 by overcoming the action of the spring 7 of the cover 96 acting on the arms 95 and 92 and consequently depresses the arm 95 and lifts the cover 96 corresponding to the sound Bb. On said cover is welded a lug 97 under which is located the arm 98 of the ordinary Bb finger piece.

The acoustic range of the saxophone has been increased by adding top Fit operated by the left ring finger and top G operated by the right forefinger. To produce said notes, a rod 100 is rockingly carried between studs g. One end of said rod has welded thereto finger piece 101. Its other end has secured thereto in opposite direction a cover 102 corresponding to top Ft. Another rod 103 roc ringly carried between studs h is fitted at one end with a finger piece 104 and at its other-end and inthe opposite direction with top G cover 105.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the mechanism for performing the automatic actuation of the octave keys by means of one finger piece only i. e. of one finger comprises the plate 30 on which the left ring finger can bear. This plate 30 is welded to a rod 31 on which are secured two levers 32 and 33 which are respectively positioned underneath the lovers 47 and 46. Between the studs n is carried a rock shaft divided into four parts 34, 35, On the part 34 is secured the arm 47 and the upper connection 38. On the part 35 aresecured a lag 39,'the lowe'rconnection 40 and the octave cover 41. On the part 35 is secured an arm 42 and a lug 43. Lastly on the part 37 are secured the arms 44 and 46 and an arcuate arm 45 which is positioned under the ring on the mouth-piece holder 99. Underneath the rock shafts is placed a spring 40 The lever 20*" of the rockingly supported finger piece 20 presses upon the arms 42 and 44 owing to a flat spring located underneath said finger piece (not shown). .A spring j lifts the cover 41. Another spring is overcomes the action of the spring 7' and depresses the cover 41. A further spring Z of greater strength lifts the lever 45 and consequently the ring of the mouth-piece holder 99 and the octave finger piece of said holder. Therefore,

by depressing the finger piece 20, the arms 44 and 45 are lifted as well as the octave finger Furthermore by continuing to depress the finger piece 20, if the'plate 30 that is lifted by a spring is depressed, the arms 33 and 46 are also lifted whilst the members 45 and 99 are lowered. Thus the arm of the mouth-piece holder is lowered and closes the octave keys. By the same operation, the arms 32 and 4'? and the connection 38 are lifted. When thus lifted, the latter allows the spring located under the pointed link 41 to lift the latter.

It will be appreciated that without departing from the spirit of the invention as sound-emitting holes in the proper sequence as postulated by the novel principles underlying the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A saxophone comprising a barrel sequentially pierced with holes spaced from one another to the musical extent of a half tone and mechanisms including a series of rock shafts mounted in bearing studs on the barrel and a set ofcovers and plates for the holes and finger pieces for the actuation of said covers and plates, said mechanisms being adapted for the production of an open lowest sound. Oil.

2. A saxophone comprising a barrel sequentially pierced with holes spaced from one another to the musical extent of a half tone and mechanisms including a series of rock shafts mounted in bearing studs on the barrel and a set of covers and plates for the holes and finger pieces for the actuation of said covers and plates in the required sequence, said mechanisms being adapted for the production of an open sound Eb.

3. A saxophone comprising a barrel sequentially pierced with holes spaced from one another 'to the musical extent of a half tone and mechanisms including a series of rock shafts mounted in bearing studs on the barrel and a set of covers and plates for the holes and finger piecesfor actuating said covers and plates in the required sequences, said mechanisms being adapted for the production ofthe sequence of whole tones F it, Git, A11 and C by lifting one finger only for each tone, and moreover comprising eleven rock shafts connected to the respective covers adapted to close the corresponding holes in the required succession.

4. A saxophone comprising a barrel sequentially pierced with holes spaced from one another to the musical extent of a half tone andmechanisms including a series of rock shafts mounted in bearing studs on the barrel and a set of covers and plates for the holes and finger pieces for the actuation of said covers and plates in the required sequence, said mechanisms being adapted for increasing the acoustic range of the saxophone by the addition of a high Fit operated by the left ring finger and a high G operated by the right forefinger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEON LEBLANC. 

